Munster have announced the signing of Northampton Saints centre James Downey on a two-year deal.

The 30-year-old has become an integral part of the Saints' backline but has decided to return to his native Ireland for next season. Downey has had previous stints with Leinster and Connacht before switching to Munster for the 2006-07 season. He joined the Saints for the 2007-08 campaign and has since made 135 appearances for the Franklin's Gardens outfit.

Munster coach Tony McGahan is relishing the chance to see Downey back in the red of Munster. " James is a quality player who has been on our radar for some time now," McGahan said. "We've seen at first hand, on several occasion in recent times in the Heineken Cup exactly what he has to offer and believe that his style and his attitude can only enhance our squad."